XXᵉ siècle – XXᵉ siècle
Sierra Leone
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Sierra Leone political crisis of 1967–1968 followed a disputed general election and a struggle over the appointment of the next prime minister. The governor-general appointed Siaka Stevens, but Brigadier Lansana intervened, declared martial law, and prevented the transfer of power. Military rule, Stevens’s detention and exile, and a counter-coup by private soldiers followed. The April 1968 counter-coup restored Stevens to the premiership while preserving a surprising degree of army and police discipline.
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Le récit
The crisis began after the 1967 general election, whose result was extremely close despite flagrant abuses by the Sierra Leone People’s Party. The governor-general judged Siaka Stevens more likely than Sir Albert Margai to command a parliamentary majority and appointed him prime minister. This constitutional decision immediately confronted the coercive power of the military.
Brigadier Lansana, the force commander, intervened on the grounds that party conflict might create disorder. He declared martial law and prevented Stevens from taking office; Stevens and his lieutenants were confined by the army in State House, where they had gone to be sworn in. Lansana was then overthrown by military colleagues, who established a military government and briefly detained Stevens.
Stevens subsequently went into exile in London and Guinea. In April 1968, private soldiers organised a counter-coup that overthrew the military regime and invited him to return as prime minister. The soldiers arrested and imprisoned serving army and police officers, yet a notable degree of institutional discipline survived, and most officers were eventually released unless facing court charges.
XXᵉ siècle – XXᵉ siècle
Sierra Leone
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Sierra Leone political crisis of 1967–1968 followed a disputed general election and a struggle over the appointment of the next prime minister. The governor-general appointed Siaka Stevens, but Brigadier Lansana intervened, declared martial law, and prevented the transfer of power. Military rule, Stevens’s detention and exile, and a counter-coup by private soldiers followed. The April 1968 counter-coup restored Stevens to the premiership while preserving a surprising degree of army and police discipline.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
The crisis began after the 1967 general election, whose result was extremely close despite flagrant abuses by the Sierra Leone People’s Party. The governor-general judged Siaka Stevens more likely than Sir Albert Margai to command a parliamentary majority and appointed him prime minister. This constitutional decision immediately confronted the coercive power of the military.
Brigadier Lansana, the force commander, intervened on the grounds that party conflict might create disorder. He declared martial law and prevented Stevens from taking office; Stevens and his lieutenants were confined by the army in State House, where they had gone to be sworn in. Lansana was then overthrown by military colleagues, who established a military government and briefly detained Stevens.
Stevens subsequently went into exile in London and Guinea. In April 1968, private soldiers organised a counter-coup that overthrew the military regime and invited him to return as prime minister. The soldiers arrested and imprisoned serving army and police officers, yet a notable degree of institutional discipline survived, and most officers were eventually released unless facing court charges.
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